Eye Fatigue and Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

Although we are using our eyes all the time, they often don’t get variety of exercise, and can get stuck on one range of vision.

After a day staring at a screen or glued to the printed word, we may find that our long sight has blurred.

Some of us get little access to natural daylight for long periods of time. The eyes have to adjust to cope with neon or artificial light.

Stress is something that we recognise as having a detrimental effect on many aspects of our health, but it can also hurt our vision. The tiny muscles that work the eye can suffer from tension and this will affect the ability of the eye to adjust speedily to longer-range objects, giving us the impression that our long sight is worsening.

A lack of nutrients such as vitamins C and E can reduce the protection offered to the eye and make problems such as cataracts more likely.

Being exposed to irritants will provoke the eye into watering, in the same way that the nasal passages will produce mucus. It is designed to wash pollutants out of the eye, and is necessary for their protection.

 If you have constantly watering eyes then something in your diet or your environment is not suiting you.

• headaches
• blurred vision
• neck pain
• fatigue
• eye strain
• dry eyes
• irritated eyes

Relax! Take some time out from staring at screens, books, magazines, the TV, and go for an energising walk, looking up at the sky or out to the horizon. Exercise your long sight with this exercise; your eye muscles will benefit from exercise just like any other muscle in your body:

• Take a pencil, or use your finger, and hold it approx.15 cm (six inches) from your nose.
• Focus on your pencil (or finger) and take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Then focus on an object about 3 m (10 feet) away.
• Take another deep breath and slowly exhale. You can repeat back and forth 10-15 times daily.

You can also do this simple exercise several times a day to ease the eye muscle tension:

• Place your elbows on your desk, palms facing up. Let your weight fall forward and your head fall into your hands.
• Position your head so that your eyebrows rest on the base of your palms, with your fingers extended toward your forehead.
• Close your eyes and take a deep breath; hold it for four seconds then exhale. Continue this deep breathing for 15 to 30 seconds.

Cut out dairy products for a while to see if your eyes stop watering. Try a tincture of tropical herbs including Sponge Cucumber (Luffa operculata) to give you immediate relief (thanks to its desensitising, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action ) while you adjust your diet.

If you work with computer screens all day, take an antioxidant that will provide your eyes with protective nutrients. Finally, let these herbs light up your life:

A combination of Blackcurrent, Carrot and Marigold for degenerative eye problems and for strengthening eyes that seem to be weakening. Especially good for those who work with screens or the written word regularly, and people who do a lot of driving and rely on good vision.